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A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

From Behind the Lines to Between the Lines: War Poems and Beyond

Posted by: Kerry Ward

The following is a blog post in honor of National Poetry Month. While walking the halls of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, it is not difficult to be inspired by the Lyric Poetry Hall.  I have often wondered what artists and poets have ventured through these halls for the past 122 years. Were …

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

Bidding Blue Skies and Tailwinds to the Last of the Doolittle Raiders

Posted by: Kerry Ward

Just days shy of the 77th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, Lieutenant Colonel Richard “Dick” Cole, the sole surviving Doolittle Raider, flew west this morning. He was 103 years old. I had the great privilege of working with Cole at airshows and through veteran services. We laughed over him telling my father he was getting …

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

A Million Vietnam Wars

Posted by: Kerry Ward

March 29th is National Vietnam Veterans Day, and this post explores the variety of experiences in Vietnam showcased by Veterans History Project collections. From ticker tape parades to protests, American citizens have both supported and condemned their country’s military involvement in various conflicts. Perhaps no conflict captures this vacillation more than U.S. involvement in the …

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

“The Greatest American Battle of the War” – A Visit From Those Who Were There

Posted by: Kerry Ward

Care must be taken in telling our proud tale not to claim for the British Army an undue share what is undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war, and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever famous American victory.” – Sir Winston Churchill, addressing the House of Commons on January 18, 1945 Commemorating …

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Happy Birthday, VHP! Cheers to 18 Years

Posted by: Kerry Ward

The following is a blog post about Veterans History Project (VHP)’s 18th birthday.    Do you remember your 18th birthday? Birthdays, especially milestone birthdays,are often a time of celebration paired with reflection. You consider how far you have come, and yet dream of the next chapters.  As the Veterans History Project (VHP) turns 18 we find ourselves …

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

‘Fair winds and following seas, sailor.’

Posted by: Kerry Ward

The following is a guest blog post by Owen Rogers, a Liaison Specialist for the Veterans History Project (VHP).  In Memoriam: The Honorable John S. McCain III We mourn the loss of the Honorable John S. McCain III, whose service in U.S. military and Congress yielded particularly meaningful contributions to the Library of Congress. As …

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

‘Nevertheless, She Persisted’ : Saluting Military Healers

Posted by: Kerry Ward

In honor of Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate historic women’s achievements, the Veterans History Project (VHP) presents a six-part series of blog posts highlighting the many amazing accomplishments of the women who bravely volunteered for our Armed Services. The following is the fifth post in this series. This year’s National Women’s History Month theme …